Manchester United fans could be forgiven for summoning the spirit of Dante Hicks and bemoaning “I’m not even suppose to be here today.” It was the League Cup second round, a phase the team’s league finish normally allows them to miss, but after an embarrassing result Stadium mk, the Red Devils were given another reminder of how bad things have become.

With two goals each from William Grigg and Benik Afobe, Milton Keynes Dons, currently 51st on the English ladder (League One), posted a 4-0 victory over a United team that included David de Gea, Jonny Evans, Shinji Kagawa, Danny Welbeck, and Javier Hernández. Going 72 minutes without a shot on target, Louis van Gaal’s side exits the competition at this early stage for the first time in 19 years.

To the embarrassment of fans, they did so in what was often comic fashion. The first goal resulted from an Evans giveaway deep in this own half. Failure to hold the ball also allowed Ben Reeves to set up Afobe’s first, while a Marnick Vermijl giveaway (succeeded by three poor tackles) allowed MK Dons to pile on the feeble favorite.

In the long run, being rid of the League Cup may prove a blessing for a rebuilding squad, but on a day that started with elation, Manchester United was handed one of its most striking results in recent memory. For as bad as things got under David Moyes, the Scot never delivered this kind of result.

The loss was so bad, United blog The Busby Baby posted a nine-word review: “Help us, Angel di Maria. You’re our only hope.” The only thing accompanying the analysis? A video titled “The Exploding Whale.”

Other Premier League results

United wasn’t the only top-tier side to bow out early:

After penalty kicks, West Ham United lost at the Boleyn Ground, with third-tier Sheffield United scoring another upset for League One (1-1).

Andrew Mangan’s first half goal for Shrewsbury Town allowed the fourth division side to win at Leicester City (1-0), …

while a late penalty converted by Atdhe Nuhiu saw Sheffield Wednesday down Burnley, 1-0.

Elsewhere:

West Brom got the better of their trip to penalty kicks, defeating Oxford United 7-6 after extra time ended at 1-1;

Bafetimbi Gomis’s first competitive goal for Swansea City put Garry Monk’s team into the third round (1-0);

Killa: why don’t you goggle US Navy EOD, that’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal, 6 tours in Iraq/Afghanistan for this “pansy” plus I’m not on any other site, or go by any other name, tough guy, but going by your name “killa” I guess you are in the pest control business, so do me a favor, don’t confuse me with someone I’m not,

Also, Dave is a pretty common name, in England and the United States, also probably a lot of Dave’s in the British and US Navies, who support different teams, and are on different sites, who would have thought it, obviously not you, COYB.